(Columbus, OH) — National Leather Association – International (NLA-I), a leading organization for activists in the pansexual SM/leather/fetish community, announced today the semi-finalists for its annual writing awards. Named after activists and writers Geoff Mains, John Preston, Pauline Reage, Cynthia Slater, and the groundbreaking organization Samois, they are awarded annually to recognize excellence in writing and publishing about Leather, SM, bondage and fetishes.

7 With 1 Blow by Caraway Carter (Beaten Track Publishing)
Pictures and Frames by Daniel Erickson (Pride Publishing)
Cupcakes and Steel by D.L. King from the anthology For The Men and The Women Who Love Them ed. Rose Caraway (Stupid Fish Productions)
A Proven Therapeutic Fact by D.L. King from the anthology Begging For It: Erotic Fantasies For Women ed. Rachel Kramer Bussel (Cleis Press)
Spring on Scrabble Creek by Jeff Mann from the anthology Threesome: Him, Him and Me ed. Matthew Bright (Lethe Press)
Rooms Formed of Neurons and Sex by Ferrett Steinmetz which appeared in Uncanny Magazine http://uncannymagazine.com/article/room … urons-sex/

There were no submissions this year for the Samois Anthology Award.

The winners will be announced at the National Leather Association – International’s Annual General Meeting, which will be held April 23rd at Oklahoma Leatherfest April 21st – 23rd in Oklahoma City https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oklahoma-l … 7595093668. We hope our finalists will attend the AGM to receive their awards and congratulate the winners.

Nice quiet Sunday. Nothing much to speak of, really. I mailed out some promo material for the freebie tables at Heliosphere, and I had just pulled into a spot at Publix (the grocery store) to do my weekly shopping. Once I parked, I decided to check my email. And found this:

Heart’s Master has been nominated for the Golden Flogger in the LGBT category!

Okay… so maybe it IS something to speak of! Wow!!!!

Here’s hoping this is the first of several such announcements. Heart’s Master is also entered for the Pauline Reage, for the Prism…. and for the RITA.